I keep finding myself showered with gifts.
Not the kind that come in a box, or wrapped up in bows.
But the other kind. You know, the kind that matters the most.
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Debbie Bosworth
is a certified farmgirl at heart. She’s happily married to her beach bum Yankee husband of 20 years. She went from career gal to being a creative homeschooling mom for two of her biggest blessings and hasn’t looked back since. Debbie left her lifelong home in the high desert of Northern Nevada 10 years ago and washed up on the shore of America’s hometown, Plymouth, MA, where she and her family are now firmly planted. They spend part of each summer in a tiny, off–grid beach cottage named “The Sea Horse.”
“I found a piece of my farmgirl heart when I discovered MaryJanesFarm. Suddenly, everything I loved just made more sense! I enjoy unwinding at the beach, writing, gardening, and turning yard-sale furniture into ‘Painted Ladies’ I’m passionate about living a creative life and encouraging others to ‘make each day their masterpiece.’”
Rebekah Teal
is a “MaryJane Farmgirl” who lives in a large metropolitan area. She is a lawyer who has worked in both criminal defense and prosecution. She has been a judge, a business woman and a stay-at-home mom. In addition to her law degree, she has a Masters of Theological Studies.
“Mustering up the courage to do the things you dream about,” she says, “is the essence of being a MaryJane Farmgirl.” Learning to live more organically and closer to nature is Rebekah’s current pursuit. She finds strength and encouragement through MaryJane’s writings, life, and products. And MaryJane’s Farmgirl Connection provides her a wealth of knowledge from true-blue farmgirls.
Cathi Belcher
an old-fashioned farmgirl with a pioneer spirit, lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As a “lifelong learner” in the “Live-Free-or-Die” state, she fiercely values self-reliance, independence, freedom, and fresh mountain air. Married to her childhood sweetheart of 40+ years (a few of them “uphill climbs”), she’s had plenty of time to reinvent herself. From museum curator, restaurant owner, homeschool mom/conference speaker, to post-and-beam house builder and entrepreneur, she’s also a multi-media artist, with an obsession for off-grid living and alternative housing. Cathi owns and operates a 32-room mountain lodge. Her specialty has evolved to include “hermit hospitality” at her rustic cabin in the mountains, where she offers weekend workshops of special interest to women.
“Mountains speak to my soul, and farming is an important part of my heritage. I want to pass on my love of these things to others through my writing. Living in the mountains has its own particular challenges, but I delight in turning them into opportunities from which we can all learn and grow.”
Dori Troutman
Dori Troutman is the daughter of second generation cattle ranchers in New Mexico. She grew up working and playing on the ranch that her grandparents homesteaded in 1928. That ranch, with the old adobe home, is still in the family today. Dori and her husband always yearned for a ranch of their own. That dream came true when they retired to the beautiful green rolling hills of Tennessee. Truly a cattleman’s paradise!
Dori loves all things farmgirl and actually has known no other life but that. She loves to cook, craft, garden, and help with any and all things on their cattle farm.
Mary Murray
describes herself as a goat charmer, chicken whisperer, bee maven, and farmers’ market baker renovating an 1864 farmhouse on an Ohio farm. With a degree in Design, Mary says small-town auctions and country road barn sales "always make my heart skip a beat thinking about what I could create or design out of what I’ve seen.”
Rooted in the countryside, she likes simple things and old ways … gardening, preserving the harvest, cooking, baking, and all things home. While you might find her selling baked goods from the farm’s milkhouse, teaching herself to play the fiddle, or sprucing up a vintage camper named Maizy, you will always find her in an apron!
Mary says, “I’m happiest with the simple country pleasures … an old farmhouse, too many animals, a crackling fire, books to read, and the sound of laughter … these make life just perfect.”
Alexandra Wilson
is a budding rural farmgirl living in Palmer, the agricultural seat of Alaska. Alex is a graduate student at Alaska Pacific University pursuing an M.S. in Outdoor and Environmental Education. She lives and works on the university’s 700 acre environmental education center, Spring Creek Farm. When Alex has time outside of school, she loves to rock climb, repurpose found objects, cross-country ski on the hay fields, travel, practice yoga, and cook with new-fangled ingredients.
Alex grew up near the Twin Cities and went to college in Madison, Wisconsin—both places where perfectly painted barns and rolling green farmland are just a short drive away. After college, she taught at a rural middle school in South Korea where she biked past verdant rice paddies and old women selling home-grown produce from sidewalk stoops. She was introduced to MaryJanesFarm after returning, and found in it what she’d been searching for—a group of incredible women living their lives in ways that benefit their families, their communities, and the greater environment. What an amazing group of farmgirls to be a part of!
Nicole Christensen
Suburban Farmgirl Nicole Christensen calls herself a “vintage enthusiast”. Born and raised in Texas, she has lived most of her life in the picturesque New England suburbs of Connecticut, just a stone’s throw from New York State. An Advanced Master Gardener, she has gardened since childhood, in several states and across numerous planting zones. In addition, she teaches knitting classes, loves to preserve, and raises backyard chickens.
Married over thirty years to her Danish-born sweetheart, Nicole has worked in various fields, been a world-traveler, an entrepreneur and a homemaker, but considers being mom to her now-adult daughter her greatest accomplishment. Loving all things creative, Nicole considers her life’s motto to be “Bloom where you are planted”.
A most precious gift I received this last week when my family and I travelled to Pennsylvania for the Junior National Hereford Exposition. A whole WEEK together, doing what we love ( showing our Herefords) and enjoying the time with old and new friends. It really hit me hard how blessed I am to have my daughter, who loves her cows, and to be able to do something like that. ♥️♥️♥️
After 51 years of being on this earth, our son has a home of his OWN. It’s pretty exciting for him and for us to watch his joy.
I do believe you’ve found your zen. This post made me smile in the best way. I actually laughed out loud at the can lid story. My parents farm house had a large lid covering the old stove pipe hole too! Good ole’ fashioned farm life “make-do” mentality. It’s great!
What a beautiful story of gifts that matter! So many time we overlook all the beautiful blessings showered upon us! This was such a good reminder to look beyond the covering and see the heart of the matter! God Bless You and your farm!
Bless you Rebekah for sharing the gifts of your beloved farm. It has been my dream for far too long to find the peace, comfort, joy and above all gifts that a farm can bring. Sharing the baptism site was a particular comfort to me as well as your beautiful sycamore tree.May you continue to be blessed by the gifts our Heavenly Father gives us each day…if only we take the time to look.
I thought I could never laugh, smile and cry all at the same time like I have just done by reading your wonderful story!!! My comment would be way to long if I said all I have in my heart now, but what I will say God bless you for receiving and sharing the blessings of your lovely farm and community.
I have loved your post over the years. But this one especially touched me. Your ability to “see” the important and wonderful things in our lives gives insight on how to really live. I am so glad you continue to share your joy of life. Thank you!
It is amazing what we see when our eyes are opened to the beautiful gifts that we all receive daily. A sunset, a sunrise, the moon, the stars, fresh air….the mountains where I live close by, and the beach not so far away. A smile from a stranger, a hug from a friend. Tea on the porch swing, a note from a friend of long ago….My Mother is 90 years old today..to go this week and celebrate with my family the wonder and wisdom of living on this earth 90 years…she is a wonderful mentor, and friend.
Hugs to you for a wonderful blog, and for making us all open our eyes a little wider. 🙂
This beautiful blog post reminded me of the sampler I stitched. “God blesses us every day, it is up to us to notice”. Thanks for the gifts you gave to all of us today.
I love sitting outside and watching the neighbors horses grazing and rolling around on their backs on the grass and sometimes I see deer with them also. I love being outside at night and seeing fireflies, a lot more out this year. Also than looking up at the beautiful moon and stars, I love looking at the consolations!
This was such a beautiful post, Rebekah! Very moving to read about what you love. My specific gifts are the wildlife that surround my home. The quiet and peace I feel when I’m home alone. Even with the upcoming move into my new home, I’m still humbled and thankful I have the same sense of peace and nature waiting for me there. My garden gifts me with fresh herbs and tomatoes that I use in my cooking most everyday. My current home sits at just the right angle so the morning sun comes through the lace curtains, making beautiful patterns on the floor. My kitties stretch out in this morning light and teach me the art of total relaxation. The velvety night sky, the crickets, and all the night sounds are my evening companions. I’m such a nature girl at heart. I so understand the love you have for your farm! Blessings to you, now and always.
Thanks for the post. I am looking around seeing some of the gifts I have been blessed with. Thank you.
Rebekah, beautiful post. I enjoyed feeling the peace of your farm while reading. As for all that Zuchinni, make zuchinni bread and freeze for Christmas presents later…Just find your favorite Banana bread recipe and replace bananas with grated zuchinni, peel and all. I then add sometimes to change it up a bit, walnuts, craisins, and small dark choc chip pieces, for choc cranberry zuchinni bread. There are so many different ways to fix. My friend back home who has a great little restaraunt, (Rosemary’s Kitchen in Ruston, LA) used to make a bunch of small loaves then freeze and then have everyone over around Christmas for a get together and then send each home with a little loaf of Zuchinni bread wrapped in plain brown paper and pretty ribbons..It was a welcomed gift in the winter after the gardens are all played out. just an idea…Be Blessed. Neta.
Rebekah, I always look forward to your posts. Finally I was able to get on to the internet this morning and delighted to see your post. What a great birthday gift; I laughed, cried and just took some quiet moments while soaking in your words and pictures.
My husband and I have been traveling in our 28′ RV for the last month and nature has offered us many different, funny, peaceful and scary adventures. What I didn’t think about was the gifts from each one. Thanks for sharing.
Don’t know how I found you, but reading your profile reminded me of my daughter just 22 graduating in three years at The Masters College with a biblical counseling degree…smart, pretty, like you. Reading your blog, I wanted to be there on your land, in your messy, dusty kitchen…mostly wanted to scroll on down to the next worshipful utterance of gratefulness. Twas a page turner, keep them coming sweet stranger/friend in Christ.